Observational study demonstrates significant lesion reduction and restored barrier function in adolescents with mild acne, highlighting the therapeutic benefits of sebum-regulating skincare.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies consider acne vulgaris as a disease associated with epidermal barrier dysfunction. Restoring the epidermal barrier has been recognized as a key aspect of acne management, making the development of topical products that address both clinical manifestations of acne and barrier disruption a relevant task. AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of a topical formulation containing an innovative sebum-regulating complex in adolescents with mild acne. METHODS: It was a prospective, single-center observational study conducted at the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University (Russia) from May to December 2024. The study included 30 patients (13 boys and 17 girls; mean age, 14.5 years) with mild acne whose legal guardians provided informed consent. Participants applied a cosmetic product regimen twice daily for 84 days. Four study visits were scheduled, during which investigators assessed lesion counts and measured skin hydration, sebum levels, pH, and erythema using the Multi Skin Test Center 750 device (Germany). Adverse events, quality of life, and satisfaction with topical products were also evaluated. RESULTS: All participants completed the study as planned. Partial or complete lesion regression was recorded in all cases. The mean number of comedones, papules/pustules, and inflammatory lesions decreased by 82.9%, 86.2%, and 91.2%, respectively. Facial erythema intensity was reduced by 21%; skin hydration increased by 3.4%; sebum levels decreased by 37.7%; and skin pH shifted 12.6% toward acidity. Quality of life improved by 51.7% according to the CDLQI questionnaire. No adverse reactions to the studied topical products were reported. Overall, 97% (29/30) of participants rated their experience as excellent. CONCLUSION: A cosmetic product containing a sebum-regulating complex can be recommended as adjunctive or standalone skincare for adolescents with mild acne. This formulation is not only effective and safe for managing acne lesions but also improves epidermal barrier function.
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Zaslavsky et al. (2025) studied this question.
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